Since 1984, Buffalo Wings & Rings has been delighting its guests with its signature offerings--wings and rings. And year after year, they’ve successfully built upon that strong foundation. To stand out in the crowded restaurant franchise space, the Cincinnati-based club-level sports restaurant franchise with 70 locations globally has consistently delivered on its promise to provide an alternative to the average sports dining establishment with crave-worthy food and drink options in a family-friendly environment. The chef-driven concept has released limited time offerings for spring, summer, fall, holiday and Lent, providing guests with a taste of something different. The fast-growing restaurant franchise launched its spring menu system wide on May 1, bringing back a few popular items from previous LTOs and offering updated twists on classic dishes, including a new hand-shaped approach to further elevate its burger offerings.

“We’ve made great strides as a brand to create exclusive food experiences throughout the year to complement our regular menu of wings, rings, salads, sandwiches and more,” said Elliot Jablonsky, R&D chef who partners with Buffalo Wings & Rings. “We’re bringing more intention into our sandwiches, especially with our upgraded menu of freshly hand-pressed, premium burgers.”

The new burger is one that Jablonsky has worked tirelessly on in the R&D kitchen to perfect, experimenting with a variety of approaches, burger blends, combinations and types of seasonings. The new burgers feature a premium blend, lighter, garlic-based seasoning mix that allows the beef to take center stage.

“Everyone loves that feeling of biting into a burger and it basically melts in your mouth. That’s what we set out to achieve with our new hand-pressed burgers,” said Jablonsky. “When you hand pack a burger, you want to do so gently, and then press it once. This technique requires more prep time in the kitchen but the result is a better texture, taste and experience.”

As part of the launch of the new menu and the upgraded line of burgers, Buffalo Wing & Rings utilized video training guides for all franchise locations. The company also provided in-depth training on the process for the new menu items. But what makes Buffalo Wings & Rings’ LTO initiatives so successful is the fact that there are multiple departments that play a role in determining menu evolution. Members of the brand’s marketing, chef and operations teams all come together every week to discuss new menu items that can be introduced to boost sales in a strategic way.

The regular schedule of limited time offerings is just one way that Buffalo Wings & Rings differentiates itself from the competition. The brand has been growing consistently over the past five years, signing 12 new franchise agreements in 2016 and opening new locations at a one-per-month rate over the last eight months while boasting 12.5 percent average unit growth year-over-year for nine years.

“We’ve been working really hard on elevating our menu with tasty, upscale versions of favorites that all members of the family will enjoy,” said Diane Matheson, vice president of marketing for Buffalo Wings & Rings. “Our spring limited time offering allows us to have a little fun and get people excited to go out with their families again as temperatures begin to warm up. We’re proud of this LTO and look forward to continuing to find ways to keep the Buffalo Wings & Rings brand fresh and top of mind.”